Direct LC-ES-MS/MS determination of phthalates in physiological saline solutions.

A method for determining a group of phthalic esters (PAEs) in physiological saline solutions has been developed. The PAEs studied were dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate. These groups of phthalates were determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry, working in positive ion mode. The compounds were separated by liquid chromatography working in gradient mode with acetonitrile-ultrapure water as a mobile phase. The separation was performed starting with 5% of acetonitrile and increasing to 75% in 5 min, followed by isocratic elution for 8 min. The method was precise (with relative standard deviation (RSD) from 1.0 to 6.8%) and sensitive, with LODs of 0.05, 0.38, 0.05 and 0.82 µg L⁻¹ for DMP, DEP, BBP and DBP, respectively. The proposed analytical method has been applied to determine these compounds in different physiological saline solutions commercialized in plastic bottles.

Phthalates determination in physiological saline solutions by HPLC-ES-MS.

Phthalates are a group of chemical compounds with increasing interest from the analytical point of view. The risks for human health associated with some of these compounds have unleashed the necessity to develop analytical methods with great sensitivity that allow us to detect their presence at trace levels in order to assure protection for the population. A simple and rapid method for determining a group of phthalate esters in aqueous samples was developed. The method was based on high-performance liquid chromatography-(electrospray)-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ES-MS), working in positive ionisation (PI) mode. A gradient elution was performed with acetonitrile-ultrapure water starting from 5 to 75% acetonitrile in 5 min followed by isocratic elution during 5 min. Standard calibration curves were linear for all the analytes over the concentration range 10-500 ng mL(-1). The LOD values found for DMP, DEP, BBP and DBP were 0.8, 3.4, 0.6 and 1.2 ng mL(-1) respectively. The relative standard deviation ranged from 0.8 to 1.7%, which indicated good method precision. The proposed analytical method has been applied to the analysis of commercial physiological saline solutions in order to check the presence of phthalates and to determine their concentration.

Chromium available fractions in arousa sediments using a modified microwave BCR protocol based on microwave assisted extraction.

In a research of chromium availability, the three-stage sequential extraction procedure, proposed by European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR), has been applied for the metal fractionation in marine sediment samples. The procedure has been modified, evaluating the effect of microwave energy to perform the sequential method. Results achieved a substantial reduction in time in comparison to the traditional shaking technique. The time of the first and the second extractions were reduced to 30s in both steps using microwave heating and working at 66W of power. To the third extraction, higher power was necessary so it was chosen to work at 198W. In the last step investigated, time was reduced to 1min, being a great improvement respect to the conventional BCR sequential extraction protocol. Chromium determinations in these extracts were carried out by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS). The developed method was applied for chromium determination in marine sediment samples from Ria de Arousa (Galicia, NW of Spain). The values obtained by our laboratory ranged from 0.10 to 1.02mugg(-1) for soluble and reducible fractions, and from 5.5 to 60.0mugg(-1) for the oxidisable fraction. The higher concentrations obtained were the chromium associated with the organic fraction of the marine sediments.

Silicon determination in milk by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using palladium as chemical modifier.

A direct method for silicon determination in milk samples by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was developed. Palladium was used as chemical modifier at a concentration of 610 mg L(-1); with this modifier, silicon was stable up to 1800 degrees C. The precision and accuracy of the method were investigated. The detection limit was 16.2, 2.7 and 7.2 micro g L(-1) for cows' milk, human milk and infant formula, respectively. The method was applied to silicon determination in 17 infant formula samples, 13 human milk samples and 12 cows' milk samples.